A LANDLORD is facing a bill of thousands of pounds after bad tenants left his property in a "disgusting" state and failed to pay £1,200 in rent.
Anthony Thomas has owned the house, in Buller Street, Grimsby, for the past eight years and has never experienced a problem before.
This was until the 76-year-old rented out the property in July 2011 – and he has contacted the Telegraph in disgust at how it has been left.
He evicted the man and woman after they owed him £1,200 in rent, and he claims they left behind used needles and a bottle of methadone.
A few days later, there was a break-in at the property.
"The house was perfect when they moved in," said Mr Thomas, of Healing.
"Following the break-in, the police came round and had to hold their noses because the smell was so bad.
"There are bags of human excrement thrown all over the place and stuck in the drains.
"There is drug paraphernalia all over the house that needs disposing of.
"It would cost thousands of pounds to get the house back to a habitable state; I can't afford it and I fear I don't have a choice but to leave it in the state it is.
"I have taken up the stair carpet because it was covered in dog muck, but I just don't have the heart to do anymore.
"It is disgusting. I have considered selling the house, but no one will buy it like it is."
Mr Thomas has come forward to warn what can happen if a property is rented to troublesome tenants.
There are precautions landlords can take, said Chris Norris, of the National Landlords Association (NLA).
"When taking on a new tenant the landlord is taking on a risk, so it is important to be satisfied that appropriate tenant checks have been carried out before granting a tenancy," he explained.
"Finding the right tenant is not an exact science, but a variety of tools are available, such as referencing, identity checks and credit checks, to help the landlord make an informed decision about prospective tenants.
"The NLA advises all landlords to take a deposit and to create an inventory in case the tenant causes damage.
"Once a tenancy has come to an end and the landlord has gained vacant possession, they should carefully inspect the property for damage.
"If an inventory was created at the beginning of the tenancy, it is relatively easy for a landlord to justify making deductions from the tenant's deposit to rectify any damage or replace missing items.
"A detailed inventory, with photos if possible, and signed by both landlord and tenant is key.
"If there is considerable damage to the property, the landlord can use the Small Claims Court or Money Claim Online Service to obtain a money order in respect to damage caused by the tenant."
